Board - Katrina National Memorial Foundation

Chairman of the Board:

R. Omar Casimire

R. Omar Casimire is a researcher and nonprofit CEO, and founder of the Katrina National Memorial Museum in New Orleans. During Hurricane Katrina, he was in the N. Morial Convention Center taking the names and contact information of thousands of people displaced by the storm. That list evolved into a book, Katrina’s List, as well as a vision: The Katrina National Memorial Foundation and Museum. For the past ten years, he has gathered documentation, interviews, and artifacts related to the hurricane, as well as advocated for displaced persons. In constructing a memorial and museum to commemorate the storm, Mr. Casimire advocates for a seldom-mentioned casualty of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: the history of New Orleans itself.

Advisory Board:

Brenda Square

Project Director, United Church Board for Homeland Ministries Archives (400 linear ft.) . Acquired papers for major artist, clergy, social justice activists, and civil rights organizations including the American Committee on Africa, the National Insurance Association, Operations Crossroads Africa, the National Conference of Artist, Elizabeth Catlett, Varnette Honeywood, the Louisiana Martinet Society, Evelyn Cunningham, Warren Wilson, Dr. Regenia Perry, and records of the Louisiana Coalition Against Nazism and Racism.

Former Director of Archives, Amistad Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana. Acquired archival documents, manuscript collections, books and works of art; managed preservation and research services, grants, digital initiatives, and a 20,000 volume reference library; created partnerships, educational programs and exhibits which expanded access to collections via the internet; preserved the nation’s largest collection of original documents relating to the culture
and history of African Americans.

– Dr. Kimberley Richards

Geisha dePina

Geisha’s skills include space planning, color coordination, furniture procurement, and project management with a focus in contract interiors. She has over 20 years experience in designing the interiors of restaurants, retail spaces, offices, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and residences. Incorporating “green” design principles to each project, Geisha looks for opportunity to implement sustainability while keeping the project budget at the forefront. Her keen business acumen contributes to the success of each project — insisting on the delivery of a quality design plan, augmenting form and function with aesthetic, regardless of the project scale.

Remahn Farley

Remahn Farley is the Digital Marketing Project Manager for the Katrina Memorial Foundation. He has a deep understanding of Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, web design and web development, making him a valuable resource to his clients, who count on him to “get it right.”

Remahn’s goal is always to leverage a client’s existing strengths and reputation to help them build their brand and business while increasing their web presence.

As far back as 2002, Remahn specialized in using the power of keyword research, search engines, and article marketing to drive traffic from around the world to websites whose marketing he managed. Today, he can proudly claim to be an authority in online marketing.

Remahn has worked directly with Omar Casimire to share his vision for the Katrina National Memorial Foundation, and translate his goals into digial marketing action since they met in New ORleans on an important city-wide Census project post Katrina.

In addition to its corporate focus, Remahn offers special web design and Internet marketing strategies to creatives, including visual artists, musicians, and other performing artists.

As an accomplished musician himself, whose family has deep roots in New Orleans soul/funk and Southern University’s renowned Southern Jaguars Marching Band, Remahn prides himself on living and breathing music.

He has a special passion for helping other creative minds leverage the power of the Internet beyond the confines of a few Social Networking sites. He makes it a point to play his role in helping KNMFNO become the well established entity Omar Casimire envisioned it to be since its conception.

Ze Daluz

Deeply interested in working towards community goals, Zé has committed many unpaid hours to organizations ranging from Recycle for the Arts to
the Katrina National Memorial Park Foundation. Utilizing skills such as grant researching and writing, internet research, graphic design, photography, website design, and networking, she has helped build and fund non-profits as well as worked at the basic levels of volunteering
(for example, literacy tutoring).

Her interests also lie with the arts, and she has been a member of many arts organizations, ranging from the board of the Louisiana Crafts Guild to the just-for-fun New Orleans Fiber Artists. She has been a member of the Mission Utopia Community Garden since 2002 and enjoys the fruit (and vegetables) of her labor. Always interested in local politics and community issues, she is a past Vice President of the Bywater Neighborhood Association and regularly comments on important neighborhood issues. Zé’s passion is people, and her ability to support and work with others is well-known by her friends and fellow project participants. She is equally comfortable being devoted to one task as she is working towards multiple end goals. The most important thing for Zé is to feel that her energies are being spent on worthwhile tasks, things that will make a difference in the world.

Executive Board of Directors:

Athema L. Etzioni

Dr. Athema L. Etzioni is a Board Certified Veterinary Clinical Pathologist. She was home schooled and entered college at Xavier University of Louisiana at New Orleans in the Spring of 1994, and received her BS degree in Biology in the Spring in the Spring of 1997. That Fall she was accepted into Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing & Allied Health. She received her DVM degree in May 2001 and completed a Veterinary Clinical Pathology Residency program at the University of Florida. After the first year of training her studies continued at Purdue University School of Veterinary medicine. In September 2005 she completed her residency training and in December 2005, she earned a MS degree from Purdue in Veterinary Clinical Pathology. Dr. Etzioni has worked in research, academic, Government, Corporate, and private sectors of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Etzioni is currently, Vice Chairman of the, Katrina National Memorial Foundation.

Donna Pilot-Miller

Experienced construction manager skilled in implementing and managing portfolio of new construction or rehabilitation projects which includes planning, cost estimating, code review, schedule analysis inspections. Independent consulting work with architectural and construction management firms, construction companies and government agencies. Project included Public Building Commission of Chicago’s school development program, finalizing construction closeout documents, final inspections, obtaining permits and certificates of occupancy. Also coordinated ADA/504 upgrades in dwelling units at senior apartment complex.

Jody McAfee-Jenkins

Jody has spent the last 43 years in the Art and Design world as well as teaching Natural Lifestyle. The intersection of Design and Nature is Eco-conscious Community Architecture, such as the Katrina Memorial Museum Project, a place of education about our responsibility to the natural world

University of Chicago High School

Simon’s Rock Campus of Bard College – Liberal Arts

Howard University – Architecture

Dr. Kim Marie Coleman

Dr. Coleman received her Ph.D. from Howard University. She holds an M.A. in economics from Stanford University and a B.A. in economics from Howard University. Kim Coleman joined the faculty of Dillard University in August 2005 as an assistant professor in the Department of Marketing. In July 2006, she was appointed chairperson of economics and Finance. Previously, she worked as a financial economist in the office of Tax and Economic policy for the Government of the District of Colombia. Dr. Coleman research interests are numerous, including urban economics, tax revenue estimation, economic modeling, and local tax policy. Dr. Coleman is on the Katrina National Memorial Foundation Executive Board.